Don't forget......

To put a bit of money outside new years eve and all the year you'll never lack for a pence or two!

May the lilt of Irish laughter
lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic
shorten every road...
And may all your friends remember
all the favours you are owed!
Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here's to each lad and his darlin colleen,
Here's to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that's this Irishman's toast!


A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar and asks if he could buy him a drink.
"Why of course," comes the reply.
The first man then asks: "Where are you from?"
"I'm from Ireland," replies the second man.
The first man responds: "You don't say, I'm from Ireland too! Let's have another round to Ireland."
"Of Course," replies the second man.
Curious, the first man then asks: "Where in Ireland are you from?"
"Dublin," comes the reply.
"I can't believe it," says the first man. "I'm from Dublin too! Let's have another drink to Dublin."
"Of course," replies the second man.
Curiosity again strikes and the first man asks: "What school did you go to?"
"Saint Mary's," replies the second man. "I graduated in '65."
"This is unbelievable!," the first man says. "I went to Saint Mary's and I graduated in '65, too!"
About that time in comes one of the regulars and sits down at the bar.
"What's been going on?," he asks the bartender.
"Nothing much," replies the bartender. "The O'Malley twins are drunk again."

Some friars were behind in their belfry payments, so they opened a small florist shop to raise the funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, the rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair.

He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. He asked his mother to go ask the friars to get out of business. They ignored her. So, the rival florist hired Hugh Mac Taggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close shop. Terrified, the friars did so.

The Moral of the Story: Wait for it....



Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars !!

News from Ireland

NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND



IRISH ARE THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE IN THE EU

A recent report from the European Union (EU) has
revealed that the Irish are among the happiest
people in Europe. The survey found that 92% of
Irish people are happy with their lives, compared
with the EU average of 80%. 50% indicated that
the health-care system was the most worrying
aspect of Irish life with 42% citing crime as
their biggest worry.

In respect of support for the EU Ireland ranks
second only to Luxembourg where 82% are
supportive, 73% being the rating in Ireland.
Austria and Britain are the most skeptical about
the EU, with 32% and 34% support respectively.

BUDGET 2005 IS ANNOUNCED

The annual budget, or allocation of financial
resources, has been announced by the Minister for
Finance. The big winners are families with
children who will receive an extra EURO 30 per
week per child, up until the age of 5 years. Old
age pensions were increased also with the
Government indicating it will reach its target of
a payment of EURO 200 per week before its term in
office expires.

It is expected that extra tax will be put onto the
sale of cigarettes. Alcohol may also be targeted
for extra taxation but the Minister will be
mindful of the delicate balance required in
respect of keeping inflation low while at the same
time pursuing its policy of taxing unhealthy
consumption.

The Irish economy will have grown by 5% in 2005
and is expected to top 6% in 2006. The construction
boom is the main driving force behind the
continuing surge in the economy, allied with a low
corporate taxation regime and record high
employment levels.

EU WORKERS FLOCK INTO IRELAND

Workers from eastern Europe are flocking into
Ireland attracted by high wages and employment
opportunities. In 2004 there were 7000
registrations of workers from the new EU states
who are entitled to work in Ireland. The figure
in 2005 is more than 11,000 per month. Most of
the new workers are from Poland (54%), Lithuania
(19%), Latvia (9%) and Slovakia (8%). Tax
documentation has revealed that the vast majority
take up employment immediately while others work
on short term contracts and return home. Citizens
of the new EU states are not entitled to collect
Social Welfare in Ireland. Non-nationals now
account for 8% of the Irish workforce which is one
of the highest rates in the EU.

HOUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE IN 2005

Despite the now annual event of warnings from
economists of an imminent collapse of the Irish
property market house prices continued to rise in
2005. The average cost of a home in Ireland is now
EURO 275,000. The start of 2005 saw the rate of
increase in house values begin to drop off, but it
soon picked up again in the second half of the
year. House prices increased in Ireland by an
average of 9% in 2005. The increase in 2004 was
over 8%.

The recent one-quarter percent interest rate
increase by the ECB did little to dampen the
market. The huge influx of foreign workers is
regarded as one of the big reasons why the
market is still so buoyant. In order for prices
to decrease then supply would have to exceed
demand and, despite record level of houses being
built, this does not look likely in the short
term.

ABBEY THEATRE MOVE FINALISED

It has been confirmed that the world famous Abbey
Theatre located in the heart of Dublin City is to
be moved a short distance to new premises at
Georges Dock. The Abbey has been under severe
financial pressure in recent years and the move
is intended to revitalize the ailing national
theatre.

AER LINGUS AND RYANAIR SLUG IT OUT

Rival airlines Aer Lingus and Ryanair have stepped
up their battle, with the consumer being the big
winner. Ryanair recently added 18 new routes to
its service with Aer Lingus replying with 6 new
routes of its own, including direct flights from
Dublin to Poznan, Palma and Rennes. Ryanair now
offers a service to Marseilles, Milan, Valencia
and Bratislava.


Voice your opinion on these news issues here:

http://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi


A-O-L USERS GO HERE

Christmas in the trenches

This year think about this true story set to music by
Christmas in the Trenches
by John McCutcheon

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same

IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas
traditions that are all of its own. Many of these customs
have their root in the time when the Gaelic culture and
religion of the country were being suppressed and it is
perhaps because of that they have survived into modern
times.

THE CANDLE IN THE WINDOW

The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house
on Christmas eve is still practised today. It has a number
of purposes but primarily it was an symbol of welcome to
Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter.

The candle also indicated a safe place for priests to
perform mass as, during Penal Times this was not allowed.

A further element of the tradition is that the candle should
be lit by the youngest member of the household and only be
extinguished by a girl bearing the name 'Mary'.

THE LADEN TABLE

After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table was
again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with
caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large
lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that
Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveller, could avail of
the welcome.

THE WREN BOY PROCESSION

During Penal Times there was once a plot in a village against
the local soldiers. They were surrounded and were about to
be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and
awakened the soldiers. The plot failed and the wren became
known as 'The Devil's bird'.

On St. Stephens day a procession takes place where a pole
with a holly bush is carried from house to house and
families dress up in old clothes and with blackened faces.
In olden times an actual wren would be killed and placed on
top of the pole.

This custom has to a large degree disappeared but the
tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephens
Day has survived and is very much part of Christmas.

DECORATIONS:

The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in
Ireland as Holly was one of the main plants that flourished
at Christmas time and which gave the poor ample means with
which to decorate their dwellings.

All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little
Christmas (January 6th.) and it is considered to be bad luck
to take them down beforehand.

TRADITIONAL GAELIC SALUTATION

The Gaelic greeting for 'Merry Christmas' is:
'Nollaig Shona Duit'
......which is pronounced as 'null-ig hun-a dit'.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Learning to say Merry Christmas in Irish

If you were to say Happy Christmas to just one other person, you would say:

"Nollaig Shona Duit"
(NO-Lihg HO-nuh ghwich).
However, if you were to be addressing the same greeting to two or more persons, you would say:
"Nollaig Shona Daoibh"
(NO-Lihg HO-nuh JEEV)
This literally means "You have a Happy Christmas."


The most common response to this would be: "Nollaig Mhaith Chugat"
(NO-lihg Wy HU-gut)
Literally-"A good Christmas to you."

If one were to wish someone a "Happy New Year," he or she would say:

"Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit"
(AH-vlee ihn fwee WAH-shuh wich)

And if one were to be addressing two or more other persons, he or she would say:
"Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh"
(AH vlee-ihn fwee WAH-shuh Heev)
Literally-"You have a Prosperous New Year."

Just as in English, the two expressions are often combined to say “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” as follows:

“Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit.”
(NO-lihg HO-nuh AH-guhs AH-vlee-ihn fwee WAH-shuh wich).

Le gach dea-ghui i gcomhair na nollag agus na h-ath bhliana! (With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year!)

The plural of this would be:
“Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh.”
(NO-lihg HO-nuh AH-guhs AH-vlee-ihn fwee WAH-shuh HEEV).

For every greeting above, the common response is:
“Go mba hé duit”
(guh may hay wich)
Meaning: “The same to you.”

Irish: Nollaig Shona dhuit/dhíbh*
Pronunciation: null-ig hun-ah gwich/yeev
*singular/plural

A Irish Christmas card for you

Outside text: An Irish Carol

'Twas only a wee little baby, 'Twas only a stable so bare, 'Twas only a poor tiny village, And a humble and pure Mother's prayer. 'Twas only a wee little baby, But He changed the whole world with His love In that one blessed moment so long ago When God came to earth from above.

Inside text: God’s joy and peace to you-- Today and all year through!

Bible text: "The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Luke 1:30-32

Irish Christmas Traditions

WHITEWASHING THE HOUSE

In many rural areas of Ireland still today the custom of whitewashing the outhouses and stores prevails. At One time, it was the whole farm, inside and out. The women would scrub and polish everything til it shone, and the men would take a bucket of whitewash, or limewash, and purify everything in honour of the coming of the Christchild.

This custom goes back long before christianity or even celtic civilisation. It was a purifying ceremony from the most ancient of times, the ancient Mesopotamians, 4000BC would cleanse their homes, sweep the streets even, in an attempt to assist their god in his battle against the powers of chaos. And in Central European lore, it was believed that the deity, Frigg, would check all the threshholds of each house to make sure they were swept clean. The links are so tightly intertwined, it becomes difficult to seperate one belief from another, Christmas is like a Tapestry, tightly and colourfully woven. It is almost impossible to find a thread and trace it to its beginning in the picture. From this ancient custom comes the modern traditions of putting up fresh curtains, a special Christmas Bedcover, cushions and table linens etc. The whitewashing of the house.